Throughout
life, whether you're in your 20s full of dreams or already in your 80s with a
wealth of experience, time always slips by quickly. Time waits for no one. When we are young, we often live with
ambitions and goals oriented toward the future.
That’s not wrong—humans are naturally inclined to live for what lies
ahead. We study, work, save, and wait
for a "tomorrow" when we'll finally be free to do what we love.
But
have you ever wondered whether that day will ever arrive?
The
Modern Illness: Postponing Happiness
We often comfort ourselves by saying, "Just
hold on a little longer, and I'll be able to rest and enjoy life.” However,
life is unpredictable. Plans for the
future can fall apart in an instant due to illness, accidents, or unforeseen
circumstances. When that happens, dreams
that once felt close suddenly slip out of reach.
I have a friend who loves writing. He worked hard his entire life, hoping to
retire and live in a wooden cabin in the forest, where Hemingway once lived, to
find inspiration for his novels. But just
as he approached retirement, he was diagnosed with a serious illness. His health deteriorated, and he no longer had
the strength or clarity of mind to write.
His lifelong dream never even had a chance to begin.
This is a common tragedy: many people avoid
living in the present, always dreaming of a distant future that may never
arrive.
Marcus
Aurelius—Roman Emperor and philosopher—wrote in his Meditations while
ruling over the greatest empire of his time:
"The
remaining time is short."
He didn't write this in despair but to remind himself
of the precious and fleeting nature of the present moment. Just like in the teachings of the Buddha,
life is impermanent—nothing lasts forever.
Living in harmony with nature and embracing the present is the path to
true inner peace.
The
Present Is All You Truly Have
We often think of "here" as just a temporary
stop, while "there"—some ideal future—is the real place worth living.
But Marcus Aurelius emphasized:
"There
is no difference between here and there."
Where you are right now—this very moment you're
breathing—is life itself. Don’t let your
life pass by while your mind is stuck in the future. Ask yourself:
"Am I truly living this moment, or am I letting
it slip by unnoticed?"
Happiness isn't found at the end of the
road; it lies in each step you take along the way. Life doesn't wait until you're "free" or
"stable" to begin. Live
as if today is the only day you have—because, in truth, it is.
"Tomorrow
may never come, but today is right here."
So, why not live fully in the present?
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